Are Retro Casino Games the New Cool? The human race believed the new is always better for decades. There was no doubt how the future brings only positive things, and the negative ones can be easily diminished thanks to new and improved technologies. And then 2020 hit us like a wrecking ball and left longing for times when things were simpler, easier, and more carefree. This unexpected scenario caused many trends in fashion, interior design, lifestyles, and even casino games.
Polish gaming expert, Anna Rosak, witnessed this change in casino business first-hand: “Forget all about futuristic and sci-fi games, it’s all about the retro feel now. Retro is the new cool.”
In her opinion, people are still not ready to face the “new normal”, and that is why more and more casino releases are focused on well-known trends from the 50s to 80s. “It was a different time, and people think fond of it. Plus, we all need something familiar and comforting, whenever we feel down”, she claims and explains the new turn is apparent in several aspects.
Revival of Retro Types of Social Gaming
One of the most visible changes, according to Rosak, is the rise of retro social gaming. She especially mentions bingo for real cash available at kasyno online. Unlike slots gaming, which is as individualistic as it can be, online bingo delivers a completely different experience.
“The generation of our parents and grandparents had to visit public bingo halls, but we can hang out with our peers in just a few clicks. This proved to be incredibly important in the pandemic when thousands of gamers switched to bingo, a game that is famous for its social aspect”, reveals the gaming specialist. Many punters who joined online casinos during the lockdown stayed because they created connections and relationships with others.
Going Back in Time With New Slot Machines
In the past two years, Rosak also noticed a sudden influx of certain types of slots. Most newly released games are either spin-offs of popular games (like in the case of Starburst), sequels (like Dead or Alive 2), or inspired directly by bygone eras. The best examples for the last category are Hotline 2 that will make you feel as if you were in an episode of Miami Vice, and Burlesque by Dita, in the recognizable 1950s style. The gaming scene also witnessed several installments and a revamp of the ever-popular “Immortal Romance”, a slot that also became a part of Mega Moolah global progressive jackpot series.
Even the sci-fi and space-themed games that have been released, have a strong retro vibe. Such titles often embody the 1980s futurism, similar to the one we can see in Ridley Scott-s Blade Runner. “The future in these games is gloomy and dark, despite neon lights and glistening billboards. Also, an increasing number of casino games represents the new embodiment of video gaming classics like Pac-Man and similar arcades”, says the expert. She also believes one of the main reason arcades are coming back is the fact current video gaming technologies and companies rarely want to support or offer the retro style. “They are focused on developing as elaborate and complex games as possible, to milk more money”, claims she.
All this sounds pretty impressive, right? Well, our gaming insider noticed one more thing: “Understand the games listed above are all video slots. Gamers never went that far to give classic fruit machine a chance”, she reveals and reminds us: “Fruit machines have only 3 reels, far less unique game mechanics, and are generally speaking, too retro to be attractive to modern-day consumers, especially the younger generation.”
Essentially, gamers don’t mind retro themes and retro feels, but still don’t want to give up all the advantages of modern gaming. 3-reeled slots are definitely becoming a thing of the past, or at least, so it seems.
Are Retro Games Here to Stay?
The popularity of retro games is clearly a response to the uncertain time we live in. Games with music beats we can easily recognize, inspired by TV shows from our childhood, or those that serve as a time machine to transfer us to worlds before we were born are definitely trending. But, will this trend persist?
What makes a certain thing trendy is the point in time. Rosak explains the new gaming preferences are obviously the result of the current crisis, and as things get better and people get used to new protocols and policies, they will also probably be more open to futuristic games and titles that look into the future, instead of the past.
“Trends come and go, that’s the only thing we can all be sure of. What does the future hold? I have no idea, but I am definitely looking forward to it,” concludes Anna Rosak.
